A MAN caught with his trousers down locked himself in the bathroom after being attacked by his love rival, a court was told.

Magistrates heard that Lee Michael Sweeney climbed in through a window of a Darwen home to find another man in the living room wearing only his boxer shorts.

He punched Matthew Howard twice and then started throwing ornaments, hitting him on the head with a vase.

Sweeney, 21, of Cemetery Road, Manchester, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Howard causing him actual bodily harm.

He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months with a £50 compensation order.

Lisa Worsley, prosecuting, said Mr Howard was at a flat in Belgrave Chapel, Belgrave Square, Darwen, with Jenny Astley on the night of February 2 when he heard the bedroom window rattle. He ran into the lounge and heard a man shouting "Who are you with?"

"Within seconds Sweeney was in the room shouting if he was Matt and then punching him twice on the chin," said Miss Worsley.

"Mr Howard worked his way into the hall trying to avoid being hit but was punched on the nose before he could lock himself in the bathroom."

Miss Worsley said when interviewed Sweeney said he had gone to collect some clothes for work the next day.

He said he had only split from his girlfriend three days earlier and was upset when he realised she was with someone else.

"He said he climbed in through the window and punched the other man," said Miss Worsley.

Ben Leech, defending, said his client denied telling the police the relationship had ended.